IC card with metal reinforcing plates and grounding lead wire

ABSTRACT

An IC card having an integrated circuit sealed within which includes a case constructed of a card-shaped synthetic resin material and internally incorporating an integrated circuit board. The case has a recess defined in one end thereof and opposite surfaces. A connector portion is disposed on the recessed end of the case and has contact pins positioned within the recess for connecting the integrated circuit board to an external circuit. A reinforcing metal plate covers each of the opposite surfaces of the case, with each metal plate having an integral end portion bent into an L-shaped configuration toward an inlet region of the recess and covering relation to a portion of the connector portion around the inlet region of the recess. The integrated circuit board has a ground-connection point electrically connected to the reinforcing metal plates.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an IC card having an integrated circuit sealedwithin.

BACKGROUND ART

Cards in which a magnetic stripe serves as a memory medium are widelyutilized as magnetic cards for cash cards and credit cards in on-linesystems at banks and the like.

Though such magnetic cards are low in cost, they have a small memorycapacity and there is the danger that stored data may be erased by anexternal magnetism. Accordingly, in recent years IC cards of largememory capacity have been developed in which data will not be affectedby external magnetism.

An IC card of this type has an internal processor and memory composed ofa CMOS-type integrated circuit. As shown in the perspective view of FIG.3, the external shape of this IC card is defined by a card-shapedplastic case a formed of a plastic material, and the upper and lowersurfaces thereof are each covered by a reinforcing metal plate b. Oneend face of the card-shaped case is provided with a connector portion cconnected to associated equipment when data is written or read from theIC card.

The metal plates which protect the IC card are for preventingdeformation and bending of the IC card body by reinforcing it. Since theplastic connector portion c at the end face is not covered by the metalplates b, there is the danger that the plastic case a forming theconnector portion c will deform or bend if the IC card is inadvertentlydropped on the floor or its end face struck against some object.Moreover, the CMOS-type integrated circuit accommodated within the ICcard is susceptible to accumulations of static electricity, and theinternal integrated circuit can be damaged by a discharge of staticelectricity to the connector portion particularly when the air is dry.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been devised in order to solve the foregoingproblems and its object is to provide an IC card in which a connectorportion provided at an end face of the IC card is protected physicallyand against a discharge of static electricity by a metal plate.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an IC cardhaving an integrated circuit sealed within, the IC card comprising acase constructed of a card-shaped synthetic resin material andinternally incorporating an integrated circuit board, a connectorportion provided on an end face of the case for connecting theintegrated circuit board to an external circuit, and a reinforcing metalplate a surface of covering the case, an end portion of the metal platebeing bent into an L-shaped configuration to cover both a portion of theend face having the connector portion and a surface of the case, andhaving a ground-connection point of the semiconductor integrated circuitconnected to the metal plate.

Accordingly, the IC card of the present invention is such that the endportions of the metal plates on the upper and lower surfaces of the caseare bent into an L-shaped configuration to cover the IC card from thecorners of the end faces to the vicinity of the connector portion. Thishas the effect of protecting the IC card against external impact. Inaddition, since the ground-connection point of the internal integratedcircuit is connected to the metal plates, this has the effect ofprotecting the integrated circuit since static electricity in thevicinity of the connector portion is discharged into the metal plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1,and FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an example of aconventional IC card.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detailwith reference to the drawings.

In the Figures, numeral 1 denotes a card-shaped case comprised ofsynthetic resin material. Imbedded in the case is a CMOS-type integratedcircuit (IC) 2 which includes a processor and a memory.

Numeral 11 denotes a connector portion of the IC 2. The connectorportion 11, which is for connecting the IC 2 to external equipment whenwriting/reading data, is provided on an end face of the case 1. Aplurality of contact pins 21 are provided within a recess 20 in theconnector portion 11 and are connected to prescribed terminals 22 of theIC 2.

Numerals 3a, 3b denote reinforcing plates. These reinforcing plates 3a,3b are affixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the case 1 and haveL-shaped end portions 31a, 31b at the connector portion 11 of the case.These L-shaped end portions 31a, 31b are bent so as to cover the IC cardfrom the corners of the end face at which the connector portion 11 isprovided to the vicinity of the connector portion.

Numeral 4 denotes a lead wire electrically connecting aground-connection point 23 of the internal IC 2 to the metal plates 3a,3b affixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the case 1. This isprovided in close proximity to the contact pins 21 in such a manner thata discharge of static electricity produced in the vicinity of theconnector portion 11 will be guided to the L-shaped end portions 31a,31b provided on the respective metal plates 3a, 3b. Thus, externalstatic electricity is prevented from being discharged to the IC 2 viathe contact pins 21 by means of the metal plates 3a, 3b.

In accordance with the present embodiment thus constructed, the case 1will not be deformed or damaged if the end face of the connector portion11 is subjected to an impact, as when the IC card is inadvertentlydropped. The reason is that the vicinity of the connector portion 11which includes the corner of the end face of the card case is covered bythe L-shaped end portions 31a, 31b of the metal plates.

In addition, even if the connector portion is carelessly touched by handwhen the air is dry, static electricity that has accumulated on a humanbody will be discharged into the L-shaped end portions 31a, 31b. As aresult, the IC 2 within the case 1 will not be electrically damaged. Theaforementioned problems are thus solved.

Though an embodiment of the invention has been described, the inventionis not limited thereto but can be modified in various ways withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims.

The IC card of the present invention is such that the end portions ofthe reinforcing metal plates affixed to the upper and lower surfaces ofthe case of the IC card are bent into an L-shaped configuration to coverthe IC card up to the vinicity of the connector portion. As a result,the connector portion is protected against externally applied impact andis prevented from being deformed or damaged. In addition, since thereinforcing metal plates and the ground-connection point of the internalintegrated circuit are connected, static electricity will be dischargedinto the metal plates if such a discharge should happen to occur in theproximity of the connector portion. The internal integrated circuit isthus protected against discharge.

I claim:
 1. An IC card having an integrated circuit sealed within,comprising:a case constructed of a card-shaped synthetic resin materialand internally incorporating an integrated circuit board, said casehaving end faces, side faces and upper and lower surfaces; a connectorportion provided on one of said end faces of said case for connectingsaid integrated circuit board to an external circuit; a reinforcingmetal plate covering each of said upper and lower surfaces of said case;each of said metal plates having an integral end portion bent into anL-shaped configuration to cover the peripheral portion of said one endface proximate said connector portion; and means electrically connectinga ground-connection point of said semiconductor integrated circuit toboth of said metal plates.
 2. An IC card according to claim 1 whereinsaid means electrically connecting said ground-connection point to bothsaid metal plates comprises a single lead wire.
 3. An IC card having anintegrated circuit sealed within, comprising:a case constructed of acard-shaped synthetic resin material and internally incorporating anintegrated circuit board, said case having a recess defined in an endthereof, and opposite surfaces; a connector portion disposed on said endof the case and having contact pins positioned within said recess forconnecting said integrated circuit board to an external circuit; and areinforcing metal plate covering each of said opposite surfaces of thecase, each said metal plate further including an integral end portionbent into an L-shaped configuration toward an inlet region of saidrecess in covering relation to a portion of the connector portion aroundthe inlet region of the recess, said integrated circuit board having aground-connection point electrically connected to said reinforcing metalplates.